The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-05
A LIFE STRUGGLE.
Situation of the Lehigh I-Miners-Impor-
lance of Holding Out.

SIGuatlOh Oh the LehIgh COaI-MInerS-IInpOr-
lance of Holding Out.
Philadelphia Record.
The strike of the coal-niners in the Lehigh
region is life and death struggle. and upon the
result of the contest between the miners and
the operators depends the future existence of
the men, Defeat for the men would mean
trouble. not only the Lehigh, but also in the
Schuylkill and the other sections OF the country
where hard coal is found. The miners are bend
ing every energy to hold out until JAN l.
LII this can be accom- plshed, they believe that
the operators will be compelled to make terms
with them for 1888 which will be far more salts
factory than any existing for some years past.
The story of the .trou bes of the miners dates
back to 1862 Ever since that time their wages
and compensation have been gradually reduced
until now they have reached such a condition of
affairs that the men have become desperate.
The strike which was inaugurated on the 10th
of September last was an almost unanimous de-
mand upon the part of the men in the Lehigh
region for living wages. 1t is not confined to
the Knights of Labor alone. but extends to the
unorganized labor WELL Both the Knights
and the foreigners are standing together In the
battle. As near as can be learned there are
about $4,000 men out OF this number at least
5000 are Hungarians, Poles, Austrans, Tyrol-
Germans and French.
The wages paid the miners in September last
previous to the strike averaged about 80 cents
per ton Of coal mined by contract. Inside miners
and laborers received about Sl2 and $40 per week:
the outside laborers were paid whatever they
could get. These wages were based upon pre-
sumed scale of coal bringing the operators 81
that the agreement for basis of wages had
been almost totally ignored by the coal opera
tors. and the latter secured men to work for
them at whatever prices they could. The Amer
lean labor gradually being supplanted by
foreigners, who were paid the smallest sums
that they could be engaged for. The rate of
compensation of the immigrants was such that
it threatened IN time to drive out of the coal re-
gions every American or Irish-American who
had been brought up in that section.
The men demanded of the coal operators that
a basis of wages should be arranged for day and
contract work which would average an increase
Of about l6 per cent over the rate of compensa-
ton paid Sept. l. They also demanded the
revival of the minimum" in arranging their
scale of prices. This would bring the wages of
contract miners working in the big veins to As
cents per ton. those in what is known as the
Wharton" veins to 30 cents per ton, miners
81 25 per day, laborers (inside) to 81 per day;
laborers (outside) to So per week, and sliding
scale of 124 per cent based upon the price of
coal on board at tidewater until it would reach
So when the price should be over So per ton,
then the sliding scale should be 25 per cent.
Also, that person over seventeen years of age
should be employed at sum less than SO per
week. The operators refused to make any in
crease, and the strike was the result
Should the men of the Lehigh region falter in
their strike they would carry down with them
their brethren in the Schuylkl region, who
employed by the Philadelphia e. Reading Rail-
road and Coal ana Iron Companies. When the
Reading companies agreed to advance the wages
of their miners about per cent. the managers
OF those corporations reserved the right to
Quc0 tnem Oe1Of6 Jan. L II the miners In the
Lehigh region should return to work at the same
compensation that they received previous to or
at the time of the strike. Hence 1t will be seen
that it is to the interest of the employees of the
Reading companies to keep their brethren in
the Lehigh region from starving They are
responding literally to the demands made upon
them for funds. and they have agreed to con-
tribute one days wages each week to sustain
the strikers. The miners say that should they
be defeated in this battle the future would in
deed be dark for them.
Hnph McHaryey of district assembly No ~
of Hazleton, and member of the executive
board of the district, in the city collecting
funds for the benefit of his brethren OF the Lee
high region. Mr. McGarvey said yesterday:
THE miners do not desire to increase the
price of coal They seeking their rights, and
all they ask is livelihood. They want the coal
barons to divide the enormous sums of money
they make off the coal with their employees. 1
say that we are ready to submit the question to
arbitration. We are ready TO do thing that
is fair and just, but the operators most positive
ly refuse treat with us. We not fighting
to have the order of Knights of Labor recog-
nized. The order is satisfied that the men
should meet the employers whenever such step
is necessary. Each demand made during the
past two years by the men has been followed by
a challenge upon our part for arbitration; but in
each instance the cold shoulder has been turned
to US This strike has not been brought about
by the order alone. but by the unorganized
labor. In Shamokin eight hundred men gath
cred in mass meeting and unanimously decided
to stand by their demands.
''There is reason why coal should be
at this time. even with our region out There
is deep scheme in this thing somewhere. 1t is
the plot of the operators, who hope to incense
the public against us. They will increase prices
as fast and much as possible, and then turn
to the people with satanic emile and say: 1t is
rot our fault. 1t is that of the miners But
the people should and do know better. No one
will begrudge the miners a living. AT the pres
ent time the operators get everything. The di-
vision Is not fair"
Mr. McGarvey will remain in this city until
Friday night, when he will return to his breth-
rem with words of encouragement from the local
assemblies of this city. The encouragement
will be substan tial, too